Elements of Buddhist Iconography c8.24

c8.24

Perhaps the Offering of Sujātā, and Assault of Māra or that of Aṅgulimāla (cf. relief from Nāgārjunikoṇḍa, reproduced by Bachhofer in OZ., NF. 10, Abb. 5, a similar scene with the Buddha in human form). In any case, the Buddha, as before, is represented by a Pillar of Fire, with triśūla “head” and lotus-supported (padma-pīṭha) feet. For Sujātā = Apālā = Uṣas, see my “The Darker Side of Dawn” in the press (Smithsonian Miscellaneous Publications).